Amphilochius of Pochayiv
| Amphilochius of Pochayiv | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Saint Amphilochius
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| Saint | |
| Born |
27 November 1894 Malaya Ilovitsa |
| Died | 1 January 1971 (aged 76) |
| Venerated in | Ukrainian Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 11 May 2002 |
Amphilochius of Pochayiv (Russian: Амфилохий Почаевский, Ukrainian: Амфілохій Почаївський) was a 20th-century Ukrainian Orthodox saint, from Ternopil oblast of western Ukraine.
Amphilochius of Pochayiv was born Yakov Varnavovich Golovatyuk on 27 November 1894 in the village of Mala Ilovytsya (Mala Ilowica in Polish), in Shumskyi raion of Ternopil oblast in western Ukraine, at that time part of Austria-Hungary. The village of Mala Ilovytsya is located in the Ilovetska valley, which is 7 km (4 mi) wide, and is surrounded by the Kremenets mountains. It is the northernmost village of Ternopil oblast, off the main roads and surrounded by forested areas. A remarkable tree grows in the village, a 350-year-old ash tree.
Yakov was one of 10 children. His father, Varnava, was an able craftsman, and experienced bone-setter. Yakov often assisted his father in caring for people who came for help.
In 1912 he was drafted into the army of the Tsar. During the First World War he served in Lutsk and then in Tomsk, where he was a medical attendant at the hospital. Later he was posted to the front where a number of his best friends perished, and he was captured as a prisoner of war by the Austrians, though he later managed to flee.
Having returned home, he intended to marry but the priest blessed him and told him to join Pochayiv monastery. Yakiv humbly accepted and went to the Uspens’ka (Dormition) Lavra in Pochayiv in 1925. and On 8 July 1932 he was tonsured a monk through postryh (clipping of hair ceremony) and took the name Joseph (Yosyp in Ukrainian). On September 27, 1936, he was ordained a hieromonk.
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